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1. •  
     CommentAuthorStBPegger
   • CommentTimeMay 9th 2008

    
   cb - especially since Europe is so expensive, it is also a good way to cut costs.
   
   Hmm...I wonder if they have B&Bs out there. I remember hearing in Italy that there were ex-pats who bought a villa and you could rent it out or stay ala B&B. Wonder if there's anything like that in Spain.
2. •  
     CommentAuthorgrumpy old man
   • CommentTimeMay 9th 2008

    
   They do indeed StBPegger... Some are just as expensive as those 75E hotels. What I've noticed in my trips to Paris and France are high priced hotels with TINY TINY rooms.
   
   http://www.bedandbreakfastineurope.com/espana/en.htm

   Thankful People: StBPegger
3. • CommentAuthorbuflyer
   • CommentTimeJun 20th 2008

    
   my 2 cents worth, I went to Barcelona for 2 weeks Aug 2007, absolutley amazing city, you have to see all the Antonio Gaudi buildings (Sagreda Familia church) Parc Guell, the apartment buildings, etc. I'm sure you have already done your research. Rent a car and drive down the coast to Tossa de Mar or visit Stiges, also there are wine or "cava" (Champagne) as they call it in Spain, tours, and the Montserrat Monastery. And the bars at Olympic beach, can't forget those. I have some pics on Flickr, if you would like a link to take a look, no problem.
   
   Also fill up on "cortados" espresso with warm/cream milk. Still can't figure out why we put cold cream/milk into hot coffee in North America. sigh. I have to train Starbucks Barista's. :) A friend of mine from the "peg" lives there, lucky, married a Spanish woman, so I can't help you with accomodation info, but there looked to be lots of places in the 'old town'. to rent for a week, etc. Lots of Brits in Spain too, fyi.

   Thankful People: zander, cherenkov
4. •  
     CommentAuthorZwikster
   • CommentTimeJun 20th 2008

    
   I reallllllly want to go to Barcelona. I drove to Seville from Portugal on the "IP..something" highway. Its like the Autobaun, but with an actual speed limit, that no one follows. Our little rented opel top speed was 150kmh....downhill.
   
   When you are in Spain, then you will notice that not only Winnipeggers but Canada and Americans are VERRRRY overwieght. I remember being in the Airport in Madrid (which is huge and nuts) and trying to spot a fat person out of a large crowd. very few.
   Women are gorgeous there too. Dont see many chicks wearing sloppy sweat pants or hoodies out there. Style is a religion.
5. •  
     CommentAuthorStBPegger
   • CommentTimeJul 24th 2008

    
   Still dreaming about my vacation, and actually looking to book a flight to Europe. Anyone have tips on the best sites to find cheap flights? We're flexible on departure dates and where exactly we land (although France would be preferred).
6. •  
     CommentAuthorMasterofChant
   • CommentTimeJul 24th 2008

    
   Moderator
   Zoom perhaps?
7. •  
     CommentAuthorStBPegger
   • CommentTimeJul 24th 2008

    
   I came across Zoom - quite the discount, bare bones airline! Are they decent? (Meaning the plane isn't likely to crash)
   How about Air Transat?
8. • CommentAuthorrosie426
   • CommentTimeJul 24th 2008

    
   My partner and I are going to France for 3 weeks in mid August. We booked back in February on a charter with Air Transat out of Toronto and then waited til there was a seat sale with Air Canada for the Winnipeg-Toronto leg. I think we saved over $700 by doing it this way instead of booking the whole thing with Air Canada.

   Thankful People: StBPegger
9. •  
     CommentAuthorcherenkov
   • CommentTimeJul 24th 2008

    
   we have part of our flight booked. I have discovered that round trip tickets are waaay cheaper than one-way.
10. • CommentAuthorkurt
    • CommentTimeJul 24th 2008

     
    I booked for Europe recently. I concur with Rosie. Air Transat has some incredible deals - especially last minute. Only thing is they don't fly out of Winnipeg, so you have to find a sale flight to Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal or Toronto. However, if time is of the essence (that is, you don't want to waste 4-8 hours transferring at another Canadian airport, then Zoom is your best bet. From Gatwick airport near London, it's fairly easy and cheap to connect by air or rail to the rest of europe.
11. •  
      CommentAuthorgrumpy old man
    • CommentTimeJul 25th 2008

     
    And spend a few days in London. You'll so enjoy it. History a'plenty!
12. • CommentAuthorumcrouc0
    • CommentTimeJul 25th 2008

     
    In Spain I would suggest heading south. The north is nice but Seville and Granada (the Alhambra is pretty impressive) are very nice. It's pretty quick to get from Seville to the Algarve in Portugal and that's definitely worth seeing if you're into that sort of thing. I thought Alicante was pretty nice too. Smaller but has a castle on a hill overlooking the city that's lit up at night and nice beaches. The northern cities are pretty nice but are more typical western big cities. The south has more character IMO. If you don't want to head south San Sabastian is a good spot close to the French border.
    
    In France it really depends on what you're looking for. Paris is good if you like big cities. Bordeaux is good for wines but pretty hot and dirty. Nice is pretty nice and a good spot to stay if you want to take daytrips to Cannes or Monaco but the beach is made up of large rocks. Or you could go to the French Alps if you're into that.

    Thankful People: StBPegger, cherenkov
13. •  
      CommentAuthorZwikster
    • CommentTimeJul 25th 2008 edited

     
    Seville is gorgeous, especially the Cathedral.....and the women! I spent 3 months in Algarve in Portugal and we drove to Spain for a few days. beautiful!
14. •  
      CommentAuthorzander
    • CommentTimeJul 25th 2008 edited

     
    <blockquote><cite>Posted By: umcrouc0</cite>In France it really depends on what you're looking for. Paris is good if you like big cities. Bordeaux is good for wines but pretty hot and dirty.</blockquote><p>
    
    Bordeaux has the history, but the Loire Valley, Provence and the southern Rhone are much better for wine drinking if you're into that sort of thing. So is Alsace, but you have to like bacon and cabbage if you're going to survive. :)
15. •  
      CommentAuthorStBPegger
    • CommentTimeJul 25th 2008

     
    Bacon you say, eh? :) I definitely plan on hitting Alsace, just because it is supposed to be so different than the rest of France.
    
    As for wines, the region really depends on what kind of wine you're into...and that's a whole other challenge!
16. •  
      CommentAuthorzander
    • CommentTimeJul 25th 2008 edited

     
    <blockquote><cite>Posted By: StBPegger</cite>Bacon you say, eh? :) I definitely plan on hitting Alsace, just because it is supposed to be so different than the rest of France.</blockquote><p>
    
    Bacon and cabbage, usually in combination with cream and/or butter. Heart-stoppingly good!<p>
    
    <blockquote>As for wines, the region really depends on what kind of wine you're into...and that's a whole other challenge!</blockquote><p>
    
    Very true. I'm not as big on Bordeaux as I am on Loire/Rhone wines, so that's my bias coming through. But nothing beats paying two or three euros for the privilege of filling up a one-litre jug with the local rose in Provence.
17. •  
      CommentAuthorMasterofChant
    • CommentTimeJul 25th 2008 edited

     
    Moderator

    Posted By: StBPeggerI came across Zoom - quite the discount, bare bones airline! Are they decent? (Meaning the plane isn't likely to crash)

    
    
    A good friend of mine here in Toronto and her boyfriend in Manchester have used Zoom for the past year or so flying back and forth to see each other several times. No one's fallen out of the sky yet ;)

    Thankful People: StBPegger
18. •  
      CommentAuthorStBPegger
    • CommentTimeJul 25th 2008

     

    Posted By: zanderBacon and cabbage, usually in combination with cream and/or butter. Heart-stoppingly good!

    Having lived in Poland for a year I'm very familiar with the multiple, and odd, uses of cabbage. Bacon on the other hand is a whole other kind of goodness :)
    

    Very true. I'm not as big on Bordeaux as I am on Loire/Rhone wines, so that's my bias coming through. But nothing beats paying two or three euros for the privilege of filling up a one-litre jug with the local rose in Provence.

    And here I'm skipping (sacrificing, since one has to pick and choose with so much to do and only so much time) Loire. Rhone is on my to-visit though. And rose? bleh ;P Give me a big and bold red!
19. •  
      CommentAuthorzander
    • CommentTimeJul 25th 2008

     
    <blockquote><cite>Posted By: StBPegger</cite>And here I'm skipping (sacrificing, since one has to pick and choose with so much to do and only so much time) Loire. Rhone is on my to-visit though. And rose? bleh ;P Give me a big and bold red!</blockquote><p>
    
    You won't say that when you're sitting on a Provencal terrace in 38 degree heat. ;)
20. •  
      CommentAuthorgrumpy old man
    • CommentTimeJul 25th 2008 edited

     
    The most fun I had in Paris was walking down the boulevards stopping for a (very expensive) beer and people watching at every outdoor patio. They are aplenty along the Champs-Élysées and around the Eiffel Tower.